Here are some lesser-known and detailed facts about the United States Secret Service (USSS):
1. The Secret Service Wasn't Originally Created to Protect the President
The agency was founded on July 5, 1865, not for presidential protection, but to combat counterfeiting. After the Civil War, an estimated one-third to one-half of U.S. currency in circulation was counterfeit, which was a huge economic threat. The Secret Service was created under the Department of the Treasury to tackle this problem.
Presidential protection only became a full-time duty after the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901.
2. Two Presidents Were Assassinated While the Secret Service Existed, but They Weren’t Yet Protected
- Abraham Lincoln (1865): The Secret Service was signed into existence the very day Lincoln was assassinated, but it wasn’t operational yet.
- James Garfield (1881): The agency existed but was still primarily focused on counterfeiting.
- William McKinley (1901): His assassination led to Congress officially assigning presidential protection as a primary mission of the Secret Service.
3. The Secret Service Has Jurisdiction Over Cybercrime and Financial Fraud
Despite its reputation for physical protection, the agency still investigates:
- Cyber fraud
- Credit card and identity theft
- Money laundering
- Financial institution fraud
- Cryptocurrency-related crimes
They were instrumental in dismantling the world’s largest identity theft ring in 2007, which affected over 40 million credit cards.
4. They Protect More Than Just the President
The Secret Service also protects:
- The Vice President and their family
- The First Family (spouse, children, and sometimes extended family)
- Former presidents and their spouses (for life if they served at least one term)
- Presidential candidates during campaigns
- Foreign dignitaries and heads of state during official U.S. visits
They even provide security advice to Super Bowl events and the Olympics when hosted in the U.S.
5. Code Names for Protectees Are Carefully Selected
Every protected person gets a code name assigned by the Secret Service, often chosen from a list provided by the White House Communications Agency (WHCA). Some famous ones:
- John F. Kennedy – "Lancer"
- Ronald Reagan – "Rawhide"
- Barack Obama – "Renegade"
- Donald Trump – "Mogul"
- Joe Biden – "Celtic"
First Ladies and children also get code names:
- Jackie Kennedy – "Lace"
- Michelle Obama – "Renaissance"
- Ivanka Trump – "Marvel"
6. They Carry Biometric-Secured "Football" Briefcases
The nuclear football (the briefcase with nuclear launch codes) is always carried by a Secret Service agent near the president. It contains:
- The "Black Book" of retaliatory nuclear strike options
- A secure communications system
- Presidential authentication tools (such as a special biscuit card with launch codes)
The briefcase is protected by biometric locks and encryption.
7. The Secret Service Trains to Take a Bullet—Literally
Agents train for years in:
- Close-quarters combat
- Hand-to-hand defensive tactics
- Counter-sniper training
- High-speed driving
- Emergency medical procedures
They also simulate assassination attempts, practicing how to cover and extract the president under attack.
8. They Can Override Local and State Laws in an Emergency
Under federal law, Secret Service agents can take over local law enforcement jurisdiction if they deem it necessary for national security. This means:
- They can shut down streets, public areas, or businesses without needing local approval.
- They can order local police forces to follow their commands.
- In some cases, they can declare an emergency zone and restrict airspace.
9. There’s a Special Unit Just for Fake Threats
The Secret Service runs a Protective Intelligence Division, which investigates every single threat against:
- The President
- Vice President
- Former Presidents
- Other high-profile figures
Most threats come from unstable individuals, but some have actually led to real assassination attempts.
10. The Secret Service Once Had a Training School for Body Doubles
In the 1970s and 80s, the agency experimented with using presidential body doubles for public appearances. The idea was to train lookalikes to imitate speech, mannerisms, and movement to fool potential assassins.
The program was eventually discontinued because the risk was deemed too high.
Bonus: The Secret Service Has a Catastrophic "Plan C" for Protecting the President
If a national emergency occurs (such as a nuclear attack), the president is:
- Immediately evacuated to one of several secret underground bunkers (such as Mount Weather in Virginia or Raven Rock in Pennsylvania).
- A decoy convoy is sent in a different direction to confuse attackers.
- Military assets, including fighter jets, are placed on "Defcon Ready" status to protect Air Force One if needed.
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